Mail crane



Oct, 7, 1924. I 1,510,834

G. W. DAVIS MAIL CRANE I I Filed-July 6, 192:5 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY 1923 2 sheets sheez 2 Qct; 7 1924.

INVENTOR A'ITORNEY WWW Patented Get. "7, 192 ic UWTE Q stares GROVER W. DAVIS, OF O'AKVALE, WEST VIRQINIA,

MAIL

Application filed July 6,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRovER W. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakvale, in the county of Mercer and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mail cranes and has for an object the provision of means whereby mail bags may be held in position to be taken up by a moving train and the holding means thereafter automatically moved to an out-ott-he-way position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and durable device which may be quickly arranged for use and will effectually operate to hold the bag in position and release the same without shock or damage.

With the above and other objects in view. the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to

be hereinafter more fully described, illus-' stantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing by dotted lines the inactive position of the bag supporting arms.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the arms in their lower or inactive position.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the in vention.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view with the parts in the position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the mounting of one of the bag supporting arms.

Figure 7 is an elevation of a standard.

Figure 8 is an elevation partly in section showing the sleeve which carries the supporting arms.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the sub- 1 iect matter of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section of Figure 7. i

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of one end of the upper supporting arm.

Figure 12 a similar view of the low??? on the line 1 O1O CRANE.

1922. Serial n 649,957.

supporting holding arm. I

Referring to the drawings in detail where- I in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the invention as shown comprises a standard 15 which is of tubular construction for a portion of its length and which hasv its lower endsplit and loent to provide attaching feet 16, which may be bolted or otherwise secured to ties or sleep ers 17 arranged along the right of way ofa railroad adjacent the tracks.

The standard is reduced to provide an in termediate portion 18 which has extending therefrom a further reduced rod or post 19 and providing at the base of the latter a arm and the outer end of the,-

shoulder whichis shaped to provide double 1 the rod and to rotate during such movement. A protecting sleeve 23 surrounds the cam edges 20 and 22 and is secured to and carried by the sleeve 21. Secured tothe reduced portion 18 of the standard and'extending through a spirally arranged slot 24 provided in the sleeve 23 11001525 which may support a lantern.

spiral slot 26 provided in the sleeve 21 is a stud or pin 27 which acts to limit the rotary movement of the sleeve 21 in either direction, while the said sleeve carries a cover 28 which is arranged over theslot 26 to prevent the entrance of dirt and dust.

Secured to the sleeve 21 are spaced collars 29 and 30 and extending fromthe collar 29 is a rigid arm 31. The collar 30 isv provided with spaced ears 32 and pivotally Extending from the post 19 through a mounted between these ears as shown at 83 arms by necks 39 and the latter are adapted to receive rings 40 secured to each end of a mail sack 41.

Pivotally mounted upon the standard 15 as shown at 42 is a holding arm 43, the outer extremity of the latter being shaped to receive the outer end of the arm 31 as shown at 44 in Figure 12 of the drawings. When the arm 34 is thus positioned one ring 40 of the mail bag may pass thereover while the other ring receives the arm 34. As this last mentioned arm is yieldingly forced upward the mail bag will be held relatively taut between the arms. The manner of engagement of the bag 41 with the arms 31 and 43, acts to hold the sleeve 22 in its upper position and against rotation. As soon as the bag 41 is removed, the arm 43 will be disengaged and will drop to the dotted line position shown in Figures 1 and 2, where upon the weight of the arms 31 and 34, together with the sleeve 21 will cause the latter to move downward and to rotate during its downward movement so that the bag; supporting arms will be arranged substantially at right angles to their former position.

In order to insure positive diownward movement of the sleeve 21 there is provided a spring 45, one end of which bears against a washer 46 upon the upper end of the sleeve while the opposite end bears against the under face of a cup or container 47. Vhile the spring 45 may be used for this purpose. it is obvious that this spring is not essential, as the weight of the movable parts, namely, the sleeve 21 and the arms 31 and 34 would insure proper movement. This cup or container is held in place by means of the clamping member which includes a threaded shank which engages a threaded socket provided in the upper end of the rod or port 19. This clamping member has extending there from a dome-like apron 49 which extends over the upper end of the standard. and as a protection for said upper end. The cup or container 47 is designed to hold a suitable lubricant which may be inserted through a normally covered opening the lubricant draining downward along the rod orpost 19 so as to provide proper lubricat on between said post and the sleeve 21.

The standard 15 may be provided with openings 54 at the lower ends of the cam edges 20, so that oil or other lubricant which flows down the standard will be directed into the hollow portion of the standard .15

through these openings 54 and thus prevent its accumulation upon the outside of the standard.

It is to be noted that the holding arm 43 will be positioned upon the side of the arm 31 in the direction of the approaching train so as to permit the said arm 31 to rotate in the manner mentioned.

If desired, the standard may be provided with a ladder 52 which is secured to the standard and which has extending laterally therefrom a platform whose upper sur face is preferably roughened as shown so as to provide sure footing in adjusting the mail bag.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A mail crane comprising a standard, a sleeve mounted for vertical movement thereon, means whereby vertical movement of the sleeve will also rotate the same, spaced bag supporting arms secured to and extending laterally from the sleeve and an arm having one end pivotally secured to the standard and its opposite end engaged with the bag and one of? the supporting arms, to hold the sleeve against movement when the bag is in position.

2.1% mail crane comprising a standard, a reduced upper end for said standard, spirally disposed shoulders at the lower end of the reduced upper end, a sleeve mounted for rotation upon the upper end of the standard, a double cam edge at the lower end of the sleeve for engagement with the spirally disposed shoulders, a stop pin extending into and engaging the opposite end walls of a groove provided in the sleeve to limit movement of the latter. a rigid arm secured to the lower end 01' the sleeve, a pivotally movable arm se cured to the upper end of the sleeve, means "For yieldingly Forcing the pivotally movable arm upward, whereby a mail bag may be suspended with its opposite ends engaged by the arms and means engaged by the bag for holding the cam end of the sleeve spaced from the spiral shoulders.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GROVE'R W. DAVIS. 

